Kobe Bryant was 41. He was an NBA superstar often comapred to powerhouse Michael Jordan and played for the LA Lakers for the duration of his career.
Officials have confirmed that he was in his private helicopter that crashed in the LA Country suburb of Calabasas. Four other passengers have been killed, including his daughter Gianna, and investigators are working to determine the cause of the accident.
Considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, Kobe was and 18-time NBA All-Star and voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 andwon two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team in 2008 and 2012.
Kobe also won an Academy Award for his short film Dear Basketball which was based on a poem he wrote shortly prior his 2016 retirement.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Vanessa, and three daughters – Natalia and Bianca and Capri.